Saving historical gems
As former faculty members of the ill-fated Barat College in Lake Forest, we are writing to voice our dismay and shock that a community like Lake Forest would decide to abandon a clear example of history, beauty and, yes, even grace in the form of the Barat Chapel (“Builder gets OK to raze historic chapel at Barat,” Metro, April 18).
The historic Barat College and its stunning chapel, part of the East Lake Forest National Register Historic District, are protected structures by law, according to Lake Forest’s own historic preservation ordinance, and exempt from demotion or significant change.
Lake Forest’s Preservation Commission itself voted against demolition after careful consideration of the building’s integrity and historic, architectural and cultural significance.
The Lake Forest City Council decision reflects that even a town that can afford to make the right decisions about historic, cultural and architectural preservation will acquiesce to transitory monetary gain.
What chance does our world have when the wealthy do not feel the need to protect the few cultural treasures entrusted to them?
We urge the Lake Forest City Council to reconsider its outrageously inappropriate decision to permit the demolition of the Thabor wing of Barat College and the magnificent historic and architecturally important chapel it houses.
Lesley Kordecki, Professor of English, DePaul University
Susan Solway, Professor of Art History, DePaul University, Chicago
Warning students
As the grandmother of a freshman college student, the horrific event at Virginia Tech has brought unthinkable terror to the hearts of my family, as well as to the hearts of families of all schoolchildren, from the primary grades through the college level.
I think that schools at all levels of education should have an alarm system, such as a siren, that is activated as soon as an event occurs.
Every student should be made aware and prepared to protect themselves when the alarm is sounded.
Many have this system in place when tornadoes and other threatening events occur.
Horty Levkovitz, Highland Park
